CHARLESTOWN,Nevis, March 15, 2010 - The Nevis Humane Society also known as Friends of the ARK has announced that this year’s Family Fun Day is Saturday, April 3rd.
The announcement is contained in a Press statement released by this year’s organizing committee. The highlights during the popular annual fun day will include beach games, art workshops, A Taste of Nevis, raffle prizes, pet supplies, pet photos contest, animals for adoption, learning about training dogs, as well as photo pictures and T-shirts for sale.
Also highlighted is the launch of an animal protection campaign dubbed, “Be Kind To Animals Week” that will start on March 27th and end on April 3rd, 2010.
“We wish to recognise the role animals play in our lives, promote ways in which we treat them humanely, and encourage others, especially children, to do the same,” the committee said in a press statement.
Be Kind to Animals Week campaign will focus on sharing information about how to take care of animals and to help people discover things they do not know about different species. “We will focus on what can be called ‘companion animals’, that is Pets such as dogs and cats, but there will also be information on the humane treatment of donkeys, sheep, pigs, goats, birds, even sea creatures,.” The ARK statement said.
Another activity planned is a children’s ART Poster and Story writing Contest under the theme : “Be an Angel - Be Kind to Animals” The contest aims to foster a new respect for the world of animals and to teach compassion and respect in children creating new loving future owners of dogs and cats on Nevis.. Potential contestants should ask for details at their respective schools or to call 763 3578 for details on the Poster competition.
The Nevis Humane Society was launched in 1998. According to information made available by the society, the charity solely depends on donations from the public to enable society members to continue their work for the protection and welfare of all animals on Nevis.
Also known as ‘Friends of the ARK’ – the ARK ( Animal Rescue and Kindness), the society’s goal is to measurably change the national consciousness about the value and importance of pets in a society and being kind to animals in general. The Society strives to improve the lives of the animal population on Nevis through the following activities and services.
• Controlling the dog and cat populations on Nevis. The society has raised the awareness of the need to control the number of homeless dogs and cats on the island. through a programme of spay and neutering.
• Educational materials The society offers information on how to take care of any particular animal, The society has launched a schools outreach programme which started with St Thomas Primary school on March 1st . Through it, children will be taught to be compassionate towards pets. Teachers will work closely with society members to teach the children how to respect animals and stay safe around them
? Awareness of viral and preventable diseases that affect animals. Society members have been creating awareness in the community of certain diseases, such as Parvovirus which cause huge suffering and death in animals but can be avoided by a simple vaccination.
• Veterinary assistance for urgent cases. Through this programme families with low incomes, whose pets require urgent medical attention, can be assisted to meet some pet medical emergencies. Families are encouraged to cost share the expenses and, where necessary, the ARK will evaluate the situation and make up the balance.
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• Additional veterinary services and facilities. A temporary home and emergency clinic for rescued animals is being sought. We seek to lease government land and require public support for fundraising.
• Stop the Dog Fighting. Lobbying activities exist to stop the cruel ‘sport’ of dog fighting which is against the law in Nevis and is linked to many other illegal and criminal activities and often gang membership.
According to the Society, dogs in their natural state only fight when their territory is threatened, they do not fight each other for ‘fun’. Dogs trained by these ‘macho men’ to fight have been known to viciously attack innocent people, including children, for no apparent reason. If you have a fighting dog in your community, you are under great risk of physical harm to yourself and your family.
“Pit Bulls have been given a bad name, but the reality is that the breed is not bad, it is the men who make them fight who are bad. They too run the great risk of their dog turning on them. An animal reaches a threshold where it has had enough of the cruelty and pain visited upon it by its owner and it will lash out at whoever is nearest, another dog, a person or very often a child. Do you want this in your village ? Help us work with government to enforce the laws of Nevis and stamp out this cruel, violent activity. Remember, someone who comes home and kicks the dog every day, rarely stops there,” the statement said.
• Rescue, Foster and Adoption services.
The ARK has a rescue service which will attend to any animal hurt or injured and without someone to take care of it. Call 469 4357 . According to the Humane Society, the animals that are rescued are often in need of immediate medical attention but usually, what they need most is a loving, caring, owner who feeds them and provides shelter and love.
• 2010 rescues and adoptions. The Nevis Humane Society has rescued two dogs abandoned and left to die on Paradise beach, both are now healthy and faithful companions in a new home. A female dog and her pup that were malnourished and very sick when they were picked up have. both recovered and are available to be adopted together.
There is‘Ginger’, a 9 week old puppy who was run over and left in the road with a broken leg until a kind lady at Clarkes called the Society. ‘Ginger’ has since been put in a Foster home and the leg has healed well. The society is seeking a new home for ‘Ginger'.
Due to poisoning, a mother cat died and left 3 one week old kittens. The society reports that the kittens are with a Foster Mum who is feeding them six times a day.
The Nevis Humane Society invites all school children to take part in their story writing and Poster competition, the deadline for collection of the posters in schools is March 31st. All pictures will be displayed on April 3rd at the Family Fun Day and prizes will be awarded for the most original pictures and stories. Be an Angel – Be Kind to Animals.
